I’ve put this off as long as I could, but school starts next week. Like, for real. Seven more days of summer.
We have just about wrapped up school clothes shopping, and we just need a few more school supplies and they will be ready for the new year.
I’m just going to throw this out there.. we slacked hard on managing electronics use this summer. So now I’m dreading the consequences of their WiFi detox.
Last year we attempted to limit screen time, and some days we did great. And some days we used their tablets as babysitters and distractions, not gonna lie.
We also try and instill time management skills, because there are. A. Lot. Of. Kids. Up. In. Here. And if they can self manage a little? Immensely helpful.
Here is are basic school year routine with the kiddos:
630am- Up, eat, dress, pack lunch, gather supplies for the day
730am- out the door. Elementary kids walk, older kids take the bus, and Tim gets a ride to preschool.
8am until 3pm- If Mike and/or I are not working, we use this time for household maintenance, grocery shopping, meal prepping, and – praise Jesus – basking in the silence.
3pm until 4pm- kids roll in. We sit down and have snacks, review their day, and get homework done.
5pm until 7pm- sports. Everyone has practice in opposite corners of town, and at staggering pick up and drop off times. Hello, Audible!
7pm- dinner, showers, twenty minutes of silent reading, and if the stars align just right, game or movie night as a family. Electronics are off the last hour before bedtime so they can sleep better.
Monday – Friday: wash, rinse, repeat.
Weekends are consumed with sports, parties, etc. The boys tend to alternate nights they can have sleepovers, mostly because they are all so close in age, people tend to pick odd alliances and battle to the death (or so it sounds like).
As far as chores go, each kid has an assigned day to unload and load the dishwasher. They each have to maintain their living space, and their bathrooms. We straighten up the house before everyone heads back to their other parent’s houses, and as needed.
We also plan meals together as a family, and if someone suggests a meal, they have to help cook it. The kids LOVE helping out in the kitchen, and Wyatt and Brandon have become phenomenal at Manning the BBQ.
This school year is starting out a little different, as we don’t get the kids until the end of the first week, but we have already made plans to have a family meeting and do some group and individual goals, as well as create vision boards, and revamp the house rules.
Here is a free printable of our vision board we will be using with the kids!
When we first combined households, after the first few rocky months, we had our first family meeting. We sat the kids down and asked them what they liked about our new family, what was working for them, and what they thought we could all do better as a team. This has been immensely helpful in making sure everyone’s needs are getting met, as well as making each person feel like they are an important part of our family.
Here’s to a new year! What are you doing to make sure your family starts out with intention?
Today, I am grateful for school starting 😆